The world is home to countless remote islands, many of which are virtually untouched by human development. These isolated destinations offer visitors a chance to experience some of the planet’s most pristine natural beauty and escape the hustle and bustle of modern life. Here are ten of the most remote islands in the world, each with its own unique charms.
- Easter Island, Chile: Located in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, Easter Island is one of the most remote inhabited islands on the planet. The island is famous for its giant stone statues, known as Moai, which were carved by the Rapa Nui people between the 10th and 16th centuries.
- Tristan da Cunha, United Kingdom: Situated in the South Atlantic Ocean, Tristan da Cunha is the most remote inhabited island in the world. The island has a population of just over 260 people, all of whom are descended from a single British sailor who settled there in 1816.
- Pitcairn Islands, United Kingdom: The Pitcairn Islands are a group of four small islands located in the South Pacific Ocean. The islands are best known as the home of the descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers and the Tahitian women who accompanied them. Today, the islands are home to just over 50 people.
- Kerguelen Islands, France: Located in the Indian Ocean, the Kerguelen Islands are a group of over 300 small islands. The islands are home to a diverse array of wildlife, including seals, penguins, and albatrosses.
- St. Helena, United Kingdom: St. Helena is a small island located in the South Atlantic Ocean. The island is best known as the place where Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled and died in 1821. Today, the island is home to a small population of just over 4,000 people.
- Socotra, Yemen: Socotra is an island located in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Yemen. The island is home to a unique ecosystem, with over 700 species of plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.
- Juan Fernández Islands, Chile: The Juan Fernández Islands are a group of three small islands located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Chile. The islands are best known as the home of Alexander Selkirk, the Scottish sailor who inspired the character of Robinson Crusoe.
- Henderson Island, United Kingdom: Henderson Island is a small island located in the South Pacific Ocean. The island is part of the Pitcairn Islands group, and is uninhabited except for a small research station.
- Chatham Islands, New Zealand: The Chatham Islands are a group of ten small islands located in the Pacific Ocean east of New Zealand. The islands are home to a unique ecosystem, with many species of plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.
- Gough Island, United Kingdom: Gough Island is a small island located in the South Atlantic Ocean. The island is uninhabited except for a small team of meteorologists and conservationists who study the island’s unique ecosystem.